Walt Breitinger Times Columnist

Despite forecasts of larger farm net incomes, the debt-to-asset ratios on farms are up. While farm income of $179.5 billion is predicted, a full 40% of that total will come from cattle and government payments to farmers.

U.S. farmers and livestock producers will spend $467.4 billion on production expenses, up 2.6% from last year. Climate issues including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and weather extremes challenge profits. Input costs for feed, diesel fuel, seed, machinery and wages continue to move up.

Politics, including trade and tariff issues, create price fluctuation. China has not imported U.S. soybeans, turning to Brazil for their soy needs. Hopes that China will return as a major buyer soon were diminished on Wednesday as Xi Jinping displa

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